Across Asia communities and human rights defenders who are resisting energy transition projects funded by development banks are facing growing intimidation, threats and attacks. A new report, “Financing the Transition, Silencing Defenders”— co-published in June 2026 by the Coalition for Human Rights in Development, together with 10 members and partners — documents this troubling pattern.
The report analyses 12 projects in seven Asia countries, ranging from renewable energy to false solutions such as waste-to-energy and large-scale hydroelectric projects. Under the slogan of the just energy transition, development banks are often imposing such projects without meaningful consultations. As a result, instead of accelerating a just transition, they are replicating an extractivist, top-down model that is harming communities, jeopardizing their livelihoods and violating their rights.
The rush for renewable energy and critical minerals, which requires large tracts of land and natural resources, is impacting in particular Indigenous and rural communities, who are among the least responsible for the climate crisis and have long protected and stewarded these resources within their territories.
For example, in 2012, the Korean Export-Import Bank provided a USD 260 million loan to the Philippine government to construct a multi-purpose project in the Jalaur River, including a large-scale hydropower dam. The consultation process was manipulated and the project went ahead without the free, prior and informed consent of the local Tumandok Indigenous Peoples. Since 2017, the community has been resisting the project due to the threats of displacement, inadequate resettlement compensation, high disaster risks (including flooding, earthquakes and landslides), and the destruction of their Indigenous sacred sites, culture and ways of life. But instead of listening to their legitimate concerns, the government tried to silence any form of dissent. But instead of listening to their legitimate concerns, the authorities have been trying to silence dissent: local activists and community members have faced threats, physical attacks, criminalization, militarization of their land, and even killings. On the night of December 30, 2020, security forces raided the homes of nine unarmed Indigenous Tumandok leaders and executed them. Authorities falsely claimed that they were members of an armed insurgent group and were illegally possessing firearms; however, the community reported that the weapons had been planted by the armed forces.
This is not an isolated case. The report shows that communities and defenders resisting or monitoring energy projects are frequently threatened and attacked. The most common forms of reprisals are physical attacks, criminalisation, intimidation and discrimination, largely perpetrated by local authorities and security forces. These attacks lie within a broader system of control, whereby governments, security forces, corporations and development banks often collaborate to silence any form of dissent.
Yet, despite the risks faced, communities and defenders across Asia are mobilizing and deploying a wide range of tactics to resist harmful projects and claim their right to self-determination. Strategies include the creation of committees and groups to mobilize community members; sending petitions, letters and pleas to local authorities and companies; conducting community-led research to highlight gaps in the Banks’ environmental and social assessments; and seek remedy through the Bank’s grievance and accountability mechanisms or national-level legal frameworks.
Report launch
The report will be launched on June 9, in parallel to the Asia Clean Energy Forum hosted by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Manila. During the launch, we will discuss how a truly just energy transition should look like, and why it is key to ensure defenders and communities can safely speak out, participate, and help shape energy projects.
The launch is co-organized by NGO Forum on ADB, Rivers & Rights, Heinrich Boll Stiftung Southeast Asia, Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) and Asia Pacific Network of Environmental Defenders (APNED).
📌 Where
– Zoom, register here: bit.ly/4dyV93A
– In-person event: Astoria Plaza, 15 Escriva Dr, Ortigas Business District, Pasig City (Philippines)
📌 When
Tuesday 9 June (10:30 – 12:30 PHT)
📌 Speakers
– Pichamon Yeophantong, PhD Yeophantong | UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights (video)
– Yudi Sabres | Poco Leok Indigenous People’s Community
– Sumet Rianpongman | Strong Prachinburi Community Network
– Darwan Chantarahesdee | EARTH Thailand
– John Ian Alenciaga | Jalaur River for the People’s Movement
– Anora Madrid | Samahan ng mga Maralita sa Upper Smokey Mountain
РIan Salva̱a | Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)